Base pin feed



March 28, 1950 l w. MAKE-:NNY 2,502,227

BASE PIN FEED j Filed March 1, 1945 E 75 sheets-sheet '1 FMH j Marchas,195o' w. MAKEN'NY BASE PIN FEED Fild Mach 1, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 /77 727E/MEX A w. MAKx-:NNY

BAS'E PIN FEED March 28, 1950 Filduarch 1, 1945 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Mar. 28, 1950 BASE PIN FEED William Makcnny, Mountain View, N.J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Fittsburgh, Pa.,a corporation of Pennsylvania Application March 1, 1945, Serial No.580,472

10 Claims'.

they index one by one.`

Another object of my invention is to provide a staking machine which hasa pin-receiving part made to cut ofi and take the maximum number of pinsto be fed thereto from a runway at any one time, and any number lessthan the maximum, with a stop so that only the required number to be fedwill enter the part, means being provided to move the part acrossthevrunway, cutting oli the required number from the line i pins,transporting the required distance, and then releasing said cut-ofi pinsto drop through holes to pipes which feed directly to each head on themachine, as it indexes therewith.

A further object of my invention is to provide for feeding pins aspredetermined groups to staking machines, delivering a group to eachhead on the machine as it indexes beneath pipes feeding thereto.

Other objects and advantages of the invention, relating to theparticular arrangement and con struction of the various parts, willbecome apparent as the description proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the turntable and portions of the associated partsof a staking machine, particularly adapted for applying contact posts orpins to the bases ofl fluorescent lamps.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View oi a portion of the machine,part of which is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the machine, looking fromthe right oi Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional View on the line' IV--IV of Fig. '7, inthe direction oi the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional View on the line V--V of Fig. 7, in thedirection of the arrows, but showing the parts in a subsequent position.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View on the line VI-VI of Fig. l0, in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a plan of that portion of a staking machine which has to dowith the selection and feeding of contact pins to a head of theassociated turntable when indexed therebelow.`

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view on the line f 2 VIII--VIII of Fig.7, in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view on the line IX-IX of Fig. 7, in thedirection of the arrows.

Fig. 10 is afragmentary plan corresponding to Fig. 7, but illustratingthe parts immediately after the release of the pins from between thecut-ofi and outer runways.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line XI-XI of Fig. 8, inthe direction of the arrows.

This invention concerns what is generally designated as a stakingmachine, one embodiment of which is described in the Whitmore et al.application, Ser. No. 344,028, filed July 5, 1940, and entitled Methodand apparatus for counting articles. In said application, there isdescribed how articles, such as radio tube bases, may be'- counted whilegoing through a staking machine. In said application, however, it wasassumed that the pins were fed to the machine in some previously-knownmanner, Fig. 7 showing pipes for feeding pins or prongs to a head H9when indexed thereunder.

In accordance with said application, each base has four prongs orcontact pins staked thereto. In the present application, I propose tofeed contact pins in pairs to bases which may serve for fluorescentlamps. It will be understood, however, that niy machine may feedarticles otherwise grouped, such as four or other selected number,within the limits allowed for by the length of the cut-oil` runway andthe corresponding number of holes in the cut-off pin block, with whichcorresponding feeding pipes communicate for placing the selected pins inthe apertures oi each head as it indexes therebeneath.

Referring to the drawings, there isshown a staking machine, generallydesignated I2, which comprises a frame like the frame I3 in thereferred-to application, in which is journalled a crank shaft like thatdesignated I4 in the previously-referred-to application, causing a ramlike that designated I5 in said application, to reciprocate verticallyin suitable guides and carrying driving means from a suitable source cipower, not shown.

The machine of the present embodiment has a number of plungers operatedby the ram, that is, there is a plunger which oils the prongs at theposition designated I6 in Fig. l, after the same have been delivered toa head of the machine in the previous position designated I1, as throughpipes I8 and I9 corresponding in number with the number of pins fed toeach head.

After the base or shell has been positioned over the pins, after placingthe latter in the indexedv head, as in the position designated 2l inFig. 1, such base may be counted in position designated 22, as in thepreceding application, preliminarily staked at Z3, nally staked at 2d,and discharged to a chute or conveyor i5. The detalls of the pins andstaking operations, if for bases to be used on fluorescent lamps, may bein accordance with my application, Ser. No. 516,014, led December 29,1943, now Patent No. 2,454,326, grant-i ed November 23, 1948, and ownedby the assignee of the present application.

The present app.ication relates to the automatic feeding oi prongs orcontact pins at position il, and will now be described in detail withreference to the remaining gures. The reference character indicates aninclined runway from a hopper, not shown, which hopper automatically byknown means keeps the runway iilled L with a line of contact pins orprongs 2l'.` Each pin is illustrative of the iorm in which anintermediate bulge or collar 25 divides its length unequally into arelatively short portion 29 tobe staked into a base, and a relativelylong portion 3| to project from the lower or outer face of said base forengaging a corresponding Socket.

A gage 32 overlies the runway 2li so as to pre-- vent any pins fromfeeding thereto when in reversed position. A manually operable stop 33,pivoted at 3d, is provided for, when desired, holding the line of pinsand preventing them from ieeding further into the machine, that is, whensaid stop is moved from the full line to the dotted line position, asshown in Fig. 1l, whereby the the hook portion 35 is engaged by thelowermost pin in said runway to prevent it from sliding any further.

The inclined runway 2t feeds the pins by gravity between cooperatingmovable parts of the automatic pin feed embodying my invention, saidparts being a cut-oli` runway part 5 and an outer runway par't 3l. Onlythe desired number of pins is receivable between said parts ."li and 3l,said number being predetermined by the setting of the pin stop 323,which is held in place with respect to the outer runway part 31 as bymeans oi a set screw 39, and with the associated parts forms a pintransfer device. In the present embodiment, the stop is set so that onlytwo pins 2l are selected each time the cut-off and outer runways move,but the slot il in the stop Eil allows settings of said stop for theaccommodation of any selected number of pins up to the capacity of thepin block d2, which in the present embodiment has l2 apertures d3 forsimultaneously feeding pins to bases.

The pin block l2 is secured to the frame ld of the mechanism as by meansof bolts, 45, while the outer runway 3l is secured to and movable by theouter runway bracket 4t through bolts lll. The pins 2l which aredisposed between the cut-off runway part 35 and the outer runway part3l, are held by their intermediate enlargements 28, like they are heldin the inclined runway 253, when the parts are in the positionillustrated in Fig. 4 and even after being moved to that of Fig. 5. Theyare normally held in this position by the coil springs i8 acting betweenupstanding shoulder i9 on the cut-off runway part 3d, and the adjacentface 5l of the bracket d5. Adjustment of the normal spacing between thepin-holding faces of the cut-oli runway part SG and the outer runwaypart 3l is effected by means of set screw 52, threaded througlr an outerange 53 of the cut-ofi runway part 35, and engaging the outer face 54 ofthe bracket d5, so that the selected pins are held by their collars 28without the lower portions being frictionally gripped between the parts35 and 3l.

Movement of the cut-off runway is limited by a depending flange 55fitting in a corresponding socket 56, with clearance therebeyond justenough to allow for the transfer movement between the inclined le ofpins and the oil-set position of the apertures 43, so that the selectedpins may be moved from the inclined file, through the position of Fig.5, to the receiving apertures, as illustrated in Fig. 6. The movement ofthe cut-off runway is for that purpose arrested by the ange 55 engagingthe shoulder 5l, as seen in Fig. 5, while the outer runway part 3lcontinues, against the opposition of the springs da?, to the positionindicated in Fig. 6, where the selected pins are dropped into thecorresponding apertures 58 and 535i, from whence they are fed by pipes land I9 to the head B3, which is at that time indexed therebelow.

The runway members 3l and 3S are operated, in synchronism with themovement of the turntable t@ which carries the heads G3, by a connectingrod from a reciprocating part of the machine, the lowei` end of whichrod is pivoted to the lower arm 66 of the bell crank lever 6l, the otherarm 58 of said lever carrying a generally horizontal operating rod 69which lits a slot li in the head 'l2 of an operating rod 13, whichreciprocates with respect to a bracket if! connected to the cut-offslide 15, as by means of bolts lt, said cut-off slide being connected tothe outer runway bracket 46 as by means oi bolts lll. Reciprocation ofthe rod 'I3 in the bracket 'i4 is limited by a stop collar i8 and coilspring l, which normally keep the head 'l2 against the bracket lll, asshown in Fig. 4.

In order to insure that the pins which are fed to the pipes i8 and i9will be received in the appropriate apertures in the indexed head 63, abridging block 8l is provided which has apertures 82 and 33, formingcontinuations of the interiors of the pipes i8 and l, said block beingreciprocated in the lower portion 8d ci the frame 44, as by means of aconnecting rod 85 pivoted thereto as indicated at 86, and operated froma reciprocating part of the machine like the connecting rod 55, so thatas the head indexes beneath the pipes I8 and I9, the lower ends of whichare clamped in place as by bracket 8l and bolts t8, said block is movedfrom the full to the dottedy line position illustrated in Fig. 2,thereby closing the gap between it and the indexed head 53 at the timethe pins are being fed thereto, and insuring that said pins are kasintended caught in the corresponding apertures in said head.

The operation oi the machine is as follows:

(l) Pins 2l are lined up for gravity feed to the pin group feedingmechanism of the staking machine, as from a hopper which automaticallykeeps a gravity-feeding inclined runway 26 full of pins.

(2) The pin transferring runway parts, 36 and 3l, move back from theposition shown in Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 4, when the selected number oipins feed thereto, as illustrated in Fig. '7, from the said inclinedrunway 26.

(3) The runway parts 36 and''l, or transfer means, move from theposition illustrated in Fig. 4 to that of Fig. 5, moving the selectedpins laterally from the inclined line thereof to a position over thefeeding apertures 5S and 59.

(4) Simultaneously with the lateral transfer of the pins, because of thesynchronization between the movements f the parts of the apparatus,including the turntable 64 and the transfer means St--BTL a head such asdesignated 63 in Fig. 1, is indexed directly beneath the feed pipes I8and I9 by corresponding movement of said turntable.

(5) During such indexing, the bridging member 8i is moved, from the fullline to the dotted line position illustrated in Fig. 2, to bridge thespace between the lower ends of the pipes 58 and i9 and thepin-receiving apertures in the head $3.

(6) Continued movement of the cut-off slide l5, after movement of thecut-off runway has been arrested by engagement between the flange 55 andthe shoulder 5l, removes the pin-supported portion of the outer runwaypart 3l from that of the cut-olf runway part 3B, releasing said pins todrop, as illustrated in Fig. 6, into the apertures 53 and 59, fromwhence they pass to the pipes i8 and i9 for feeding to theindexed head63.

(7) Continued operation of the mechanism causes the bridging member 8lto be raised, from the dotted line to the full line position illustratedin Fig. 2, to allow the indexed head with its pins projecting thereaboveto move to the next position, and the following head to index for thereception of another set of pins.

(8) During the foregoing operation, movement of the mechanism alsocauses the Din-transferring parts 355 and 3l to first close from theposition of Fig. 6 to that of Fig. 5, and then move back to the positionof Fig. Ll, where a new set of pins is received from the gravity-feedingline thereof, whereupon the foregoing operation is repeated.

Although a preferred embodiment of my invention has been disclosed, itwill be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

I claim:

i. rlihe method of feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising arranging said pins to feed by gravity insingle iile, simultaneously receiving from said file only a selectedplural number of pins in a transfer device, moving said transfer deviceuntil said selected pins are over apertures communicating with feedingpipes to a head movable step-by-step on a staking machine, andsimultaneously releasing said selected pins to allow them to fall toposition in said head while registered therebeneath so that a base maythereafter be applied thereto.

2. The method of feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising moving said pins in a single file,simultaneously selecting a plural number of compactly grouped pins,moving said Selected group laterally of the line of movement of saidpins until they are over apertures to feeding pipes communicating with ahead movable step-by-step on a staking machine, and simultaneouslyreleasing said selected pins to fall to position in said head whileregistered therebeneath.

S. The method of inserting contact pins in bases for electrical devices,comprising feeding said pins in line and while in engagement with oneanother placing only a selected plural number of pins from said lineinto a transfer device, moving said transfer device until said selectedpins are over feeding pipes communicating with a head movablestep-by-step 'on a staking machine, moving a member to bridge the gapbetween the lower ends of said pipes and said head, and simultaneouslyreleasing said pins from said transfer device to fall to position insaid head while registered therebeneath.

4. Apparatus for feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising means for causing said pins to flow indirect engagement with one another by gravity, transfer means adjustableso that it simultaneously receives only a selected number from saidengaging flowing pins, means for moving 'said transfer means, and aplurality of pipes correspondf' ing in number with that of the selectedpins and into which said pins are simultaneously delivered upon saidtransfer means movement.

5. Apparatus for feeding Contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising means for moving said pins in single le,transfer means including a stop adjusted to position so that said meansreceives only a selected number of said pins from said le, means formoving said transfer means, and a plurality of pipes corresponding innumber with that 0f the selected pins and into which said pins aredirected upon movement of said transfer means.

6. Apparatus for feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising means for moving said pins while directlyengaging one another to said apparatus, transfer means movabletransverse to the line of movement of said engaging pins and adjustableto receive only a selected number of said pins on each move, means formoving said transfer means, and a plurality of pipes corresponding innumber with that of the selected pins and into which the latter aredirected at the end of said transverse movement.

7. Apparatus for feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising means for moving said pins in a singlefile to said apparatus, transfer means including a cutoff runway partand an outer runway part receiving between them only a selected numberof said pins from said moving means, means for moving said transfermeans, and a plurality of pipes corresponding in number with that of theselected pins and into which said pins are released at the end of saidtransfer means movement.

8. Apparatus for feeding Contact pins for insertion in bases forelectricaldevices, comprising, means for supplying pins in single lefrom a hopper, feed pipes, transfer means movable laterally to said fileof pins, said transfer means ncluding a out-off runway part, an outerrunway part, between which parts said pins are received when the latterare in pin-supporting positions, an outer runway pin stop limiting thenumber of pins received, means for moving said transfer means comprisinga connecting rod from a source of power, a bell crank driven by saidrod, a cutoff slide, means resiliently connecting said bell crank andslide, means connecting said outer runway stop and slide, spring meansdisposed between said last-mentioned connecting means and cut-off runwaypart, and means for stopping the movement of said cut-off runway partwhen pins carried by said transfer means are in position for discharge,so that said outer runway part is moved by said slide away from saidcutoif runway part, allowing said pins to feed through `said pipes.

9. Apparatus for feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising means for supplying pins in single le,feed pipes, transfer means movable laterally to said file of pins, saidtransfer means including a cut-off runway part, an outer runway part,between which parts said pins are received when the latter are inpinsupporting positions, means for moving said transfer means comprisinga connecting rod from a source of power, a bell cran.; driven by saidrod, a cut-oir slide, means connecting said bell crank and slide, meansconnecting said outer runway part and slide, spring means disposedbetween said last-mentioned connecting means and cut-ofi runway part,and means for stopping the movement of said cut-ofi runway part whenpins carried by said transfer means are in position for discharge, sothat said outer runway part is moved by said slide away from saidcut-oli runway part, allowing said pins to feed through said pipes.

10. Apparatus for feeding contact pins for insertion in bases forelectrical devices, comprising means for supplying pins in single file,feed pipes, transfer means including a cut-oil? runway part, an outerrunway part, between which parts said pins are received when the latterare in pin-supporting positions, means for moving said transrneans, andmeans for stopping the movement of said cut-oi` runway part when pinscarried by said transfer means are in position for discharge, so thatsaid outer runway part is moved by said slide away from said cut-offrunway part, releasing said pins to feed through said pipes. WILLIAMMAKEN NY.

REFERENCES CITED rIne following references are of record in the iile ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 20 1,129,882 McFeely Mar. 2, 19151,941,992 Makenny Jan. 2, 1934: 2,405,074 Underwood July 30, 1946

